Radioactive, Dewey Boulevard dispute Triple Crown’s 3rd leg

Top bets Radioactive and Dewey Boulevard brace for a battle royale on Sunday when they dispute the crown in the third and final leg of the local Triple Crown series at San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.

The race, set over a lung-busting 2,000 meters, offers a top purse of P1.8 million out of the total prize of P3 million.

Radioactive of SC Stockfarm, stunned the field to win the opening leg of the Triple Crown while Dewey Boulevard of Hermie Esguerra stormed back to rule the second leg, setting up a thrilling duel in the final stage.

Philracom commissioner Atty. Dondon Bagatsing, meanwhile, said the three other entries – Underwood, Guatemala and Homonhon Island – are also capable of pulling off a surprise, making the event worth watching.

Spicing up the blockbuster race card is the second Erap Cup racing festival, which serves as the culminating event in celebration of the Araw ng Maynila.

In the hunt for the 2,000m race that has a total prize of P2.5 million are Our Angel’s Dream, Kanlaon, Gentle Strength, Dixie Gold, Hayley’s Rainbow, Spinning Ridge, Up And Away, Penrith, Messi and Don Albertini.

In partnership with the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization (Philtobo), the Erap Cup – held in honor of Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada – also showcases the Imported championship race, the Araw ng Maynila 3-year-old Challenge Cup, and seven additional races.

Also included in the racing card is the third leg of the Philracom Hopeful stakes race and the newly introduced Locally Bred stakes race.

The Hopeful stakes race will have Indiana, Mount Iglit, Pinagtipunan, Pinay Pharaoh, Real Flames, Secret Kingdom, Space Needle, and Tagapagmana as entries.

The Locally Bred stakes race meanwhile, features Contessa, Leave It To Me, Mahayana Budur, Piskante, and Play It Safe.

“It’s going to be a fun-filled day, a blockbuster day kind of racing that comes very seldom,” said Albert Dichavez, director of public recreations bureau, City of Manila, who was also at the session presented by San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., along with Philtobo president Manny Santos, and Manila Jockey Club racing manager Jose Ramon Magboo.

“It is a great honor to stage a grand racing festival for the second year in a row. To be able to put together so many races with such extraordinary prize money for the benefit of school children is such a worthwhile endeavor,” said Santos.

“It’s definitely going to be a blockbuster weekend, not only for the City of Manila, but for the entire fandom of horse racing in the Philippines,” added Magboo.